Joo (singer)

This is a Korean name; the family name is Jung.
Joo (주)
Birth name Jung Min Joo (정민주)
Born October 11, 1990
Mapo, Seoul, South Korea
Origin Mapo, Seoul, South Korea
Genres K-pop
Occupation(s) Singer, dancer, actress, model
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2008-present
Labels

JYP Entertainment
(2008-2015)

Woollim Entertainment
(2015-present)
Website Joo's Official Website

Jung Min Joo (Hangul: 정민주, born on October 11, 1990 in Mapo, Seoul, South Korea), more commonly known by her stage name Joo (commonly stylized JOO, Hangul: 주), is a South Korean solo singer who debuted under JYP Entertainment in 2008.

Biography

Joo spent her childhood in Indonesia because her father worked in Indonesia before and was one of the contestants in 'Superstar Survival' alongside 2PM's Chansung, Taecyeon and Junho in 2006 when Junho was crowned as the winner. Although she didn't make it, she got accepted to be a trainee at JYP. She has a younger brother Jung Ilhoon, who debuted in a seven-member idol group BtoB under Cube Entertainment in 2012 as the singer/rapper. She is currently attending Dongguk University in Division of Theater.[1]

Career

2008: Debut and becoming trainee once again

In January 10, 2008, JYP Entertainment stated that they will debut a new solo singer, Joo. She made her debut stage on January 11, 2008 with her single Young Girl in KBS Music Bank.[2] In 2008, although Joo has already made her debut, she thought that she was not ready yet so she trained for another 2 years before making her comeback in 2011.

2011-2012: Comeback, JYP NATION concert and Musical Acting Debut

On January 3, 2011, Joo released her new much-awaited comeback video, titled "Bad Guy" which featured 2PM member Chansung[3] in her Official YouTube channel. The single is part of her new album titled Heartmade.

On January 7, 2011, she made her comeback stage on KBS Music Bank with her single "Bad Guy".[4] On May 12, 2011, Joo released another teaser video with a new song titled "Ice Cream" featuring Super Junior's leader Leeteuk.[5] The music video was released days later on May 16, 2011.

On May 23, 2011, JYP Entertainment officially announced that JYP artists will come together for two “JYP NATION in Japan 2011” concerts in Japan in August 2011. The star-studded line-up includes Park Jin Young, Lim Jeong Hee, Wonder Girls, Joo, 2AM, 2PM, miss A, and San E. The two concerts are scheduled for August 17 and 18 at the Saitama Super Arena, and tickets will go on sale on June 1 at the Hottest Japan mobile site.

On October 10, 2011, JYP announced that Joo has been selected as a leading actress in a musical called Youthful March scheduled to have its first performance on November 12, 2011 to January 29, 2012.[6] This marks her debut as a musical actress. As Joo will be on a musical stage for the first time, she said: "I'm excited to take my first step into the world of musicals. It's only the beginning, and as it is a leading role, I'll be rehearsing harder than anyone else to create an amazing show. I'll do my best to show a different image from singer JOO as musical actress JOO, so please give me your support.".[7]

2012-2013: Comeback as musical actress in Catch Me If You Can

On October 31, 2012, JYP announced that Joo has been selected to take on the role of Brenda in the new musical of Catch Me If You Can scheduled to have its first performance on December 14, 2012 to February 9, 2013. Other several prominent stars such as Girls' Generation's Sunny, CSJH The Grace's Dana and Oh Sang Eun have take turns to take on the role Brenda previously.[8][9]

2014: Full House

On March 5, 2014, it was announced that Joo was selected to join B2ST's Yoseob in the musical remake of Full House, which is scheduled from April 11, 2014 to June 8, 2014. She joins the current cast of Full House, which includes VIXX's Leo, A Pink's Jung Eun-ji, Kim San Ho, Seo Ha Joon, and Kwak Sun Young.[10]

Through an interview, she shared her thoughts and experiences on living as a musical actress, which is a career quite different than the one in her past. She said: "I've been enjoying performing for the musical Full House. I've been watching other musicals and taking lessons on my days off."

She also explained on choosing the musical Full House when she could have chose to return through a drama which tends to be more popular through the general public, as well as the reason she chose Full House when there are countless musicals to choose from. She revealed: "It was a drama that I really enjoyed watching as a student. I was also attracted to acting as ‘Han Ji Eun,’ which became so charming after Song Hye Kyo sunbaenim acted it out in the drama. Of course I really liked the numbers too. Also, unlike Catch me if you can, the female character has a bigger role in Full House. I felt pressure to be leading in the musical but I’m also happy every time I’m on stage because it has a cheerful storyline.”

She also revealed her hopes of wanting people who come to watch Full House would see her as 'Han Ji Eun', not as singer Joo or actress Jung Min Joo which would make her the happiest.[11]

2015: Leaving JYP Entertainment and signing with Woollim Entertainment

On January 2015, Joo's contract with JYP Entertainment has ended.[12] In April it was revealed that she signed an exclusive contract with Woollim Entertainment.[13]

Discography

Single Album

Year Information Tracklisting Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
2008

"어린 여자 (Young Girl)"

N/A

Mini Album

Year Information Tracklisting Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
2011

"Heartmade"

40 2,287+ (2011)

Promotional singles

Year Song title Peak positions Album
Gaon Billboard
2008
"남자 때문에 (Because of a Man)" 어린 여자 (Young Girl)
"어제처럼 (Like Yesterday)" (J.ae cover)
2010
"This Christmas" (with JYP Nation) 34 JYP Nation Team Play Concert
2011
"나쁜 남자 (Bad Guy)" 5 Heartmade
"아이스크림 (Ice Cream)" (with Leeteuk of Super Junior) 21 non-album release
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtrack appearances

Year Song title Peak positions Album
Gaon Billboard
2007
"초연 (怊緣) (Premiere)" Conspiracy in the Court OST / 어린 여자 (Young Girl)
2008
"그게 사랑이야 (That's Love)" One Mom and Three Dads OST
"색 (Color)" Painter of the Wind OST
2010
"뒤돌아봐 (Turn Around)" 9 Cinderella's Sister OST
2011
"Dream High" (with Suzy, Wooyoung, Taecyeon, Eunjung, and Kim Soo-hyun) 42 Dream High OST
2012
"기대했단 말야 (Not What I Expected)" 45 History of a Salaryman OST
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other charted songs

Year Song title Peak positions Album
Gaon Billboard
2010
"원하잖아 (You Want It)" (San E feat. Joo) 157 Everybody Ready?
2011
"물 한잔도 마실 수 없어 (Can't Even Take a Glass of Water)" 66 Heartmade
"영화도 안보니 (Not Even in the Movies)" (feat. Chansung of 2PM) 95
"마주치고 나서 (After Looking At You)" 117
"꿈만 같아 (Unbelievable)" 123
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Filmography

Drama

Year Network Title Role Remarks
2011 KBS2 Dream High Ah Jung

Films

Year Title Role Remarks
2013 Marriage Blue Ah-reum

Musicals

Year Date Title Role Remarks
2011-2012 November 12, 2011 to January 29, 2012 Youthful March Young Shim
2012-2013 December 14, 2012 to February 9, 2013 Catch Me If You Can Brenda
2014 April 11, 2014 to June 8, 2014 Full House Han Ji-eun

Music video appearance

Year Title Artist(s) Role
2010 This Christmas JYP Nation Herself
2011 Bad Guy Herself and Chansung of 2PM Herself

Awards

Year Award-Giving Body Category Work Result
2008 Mnet Asian Music Awards Best New Female Artist[14] "Because Of A Man" Nominated

References

  1. "JOO Profile". JYP Entertainment. JYP Corp. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. krnloop (10 January 2008). "Joo, JYP’s new singer". Korean pop music news source. krnloop. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. "[M/V] JOO "나쁜 남자" from Heartmade". YouTube. 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  4. "KBS Music Bank". Soompi. Soompi Inc. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  5. "Joo And Leeteuk Release Teaser For "Ice Cream"". Soompi. Soompi Inc. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  6. "JOO Debuts as Lead Actress in Musical "Youthful March"". Soompi. Soompi Inc. October 10, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  7. "JOO cast for her debut musical, 'Youthful March'". Allkpop. October 10, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  8. "JOO joins the cast of 'Catch Me If You Can' musical". Allkpop. October 30, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  9. "Singer JOO Cast in Musical "Catch Me if You Can"". Soompi. October 31, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  10. "VIXX's Leo, A Pink's Eunji, JOO, and more to join Yoseob in musical remake of 'Full House'". Allkpop. March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  11. "[Interview] Singer Joo Returns as Musical Actress in ′Full House′". Mwave. May 3, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  12. "JOO Searches for New Agency as 7-Year Contract with JYP End". Mwave. January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  13. "Solo Artist JOO signs with Woollim Entertainment". soompi. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  14. "2008 Mnet KM Music Festival Part1". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-12-17.

External links